"You fall on the rock and are broken or the rock falls on you and grinds you to powder... And they feared when they heard these words..." Matt. 21:44, 45.
God who is the God of divine order and precept has designed the physical universe with specific parameters. This is obvious to us, even more obvious to those who study its science.
Jesus Christ also said very profoundly "did not He that made the outside (the physical) make the inside also (the soul)." We find it amazing that people are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). Connected with the order of things and the wonderful design of our soul is the consequence of violating their parameters.
A man falling from a building experiences the law of gravity. It's better for him not to fall. A man lying discovers guilt and complicated thinking. A soul that lives in his prescribed design experiences the benefits. When we violate the rules, we suffer.
More than this are the spiritual laws that the natural man has very little knowledge of and interest in. Man is lost and does not fit. Like a man putting on a three-finger-glove, he struggles not understanding and asking, "Why the problem?" Man has been upright but he has sought out many inventions (Ecclesiastes 7:29).
God made man and addresses his lost state saying if you fall on the rock you will be broken. We can add, using our analogy, your hand will fit in the glove. Falling on the rock could be likened unto submitting and believing the Gospel. Believing, turning to God for life is what is needed. This is why the Gospel must be preached in the world. People believing in Christ happens as a result of preaching. Preaching is the result of preachers. Preachers are the result of healthy teaching and Body life. The glove fits! When our life is blessed with spiritual power and we are at peace with God then the anticipation of our future life with God grows. Faith, hope and charity become the quality attributes of healthy people that fit in the world God made. We should all consider the enormity of our privilege to bring the message that results in the reality of Christ being formed in people. Incredible!
On the other hand, violating these parameters of God, result in the rock falling on us and grinding us to powder. The word picture is graphic. No sympathy, no mercy and no hope. We should have moments of reflection on the nature of the world. Sometimes we think the rock is hanging over our hearts, and the meaning of life is to eat and drink and be merry as much as possible before it falls.
It is coming. Surely people are shocked by the tragedy. Before that day God sends us signals. Life is serious. God warns us along the way. Have we ever been thirsty, hungry, in pain, depressed, lost a friend or loved one? These realities are undeniable and are messages to us. We should fear God. The people in the world should fear God.
Christ must come into our life, or we will be tragically lost and lost forever.
Life will continue forever and ever. The wrath of God is his nature as it relates to violating truth. It is an attribute of God for it is the consequence of His nature being resisted or violated. The wrath of God is not malicious retaliation, any more than a broken body after a fall. It is the predetermined judgment of God on the violation of truth.
Man made in God's image doe not cease to exist; his design and purpose is too high.
The world is either a serious place for people to decide to believe in Christ and find life's real purpose or it is something other and it will tragically, ultimately grind them to powder. There are only two possibilities, not three.
Let us labor with the seriousness of life in mind. Let us labor and consider that men need the message, our work needs laborers, and we will see people broken on the Rock to escape the terrible wrath of God.
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